The concert organized in Central Park to mark the “reunion” of artists with the public of New York, a city heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, was stopped on Saturday, under the threat of Hurricane Henri.
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Barry Manilow, who co-starred with Bruce Springsteen, Patti Smith and Paul Simon, was interrupted in the middle of a song by a voice urging viewers to move quickly, but calmly to the nearest exit because of approaching stormy clouds.
“I find that, for safety, it is understandable. Besides, I hear the thunder ”, reacted Maria Fuentes, spectator.
Some 60,000 spectators were expected at the concert as the hurricane, with winds of 120 km / h, approached, to reach the American east coast during the day Sunday.
It must arrive on Long Island, near New York, or a little further north in New England, according to the American Hurricane Monitoring Center (NHC), which however expects “a weakening before its arrival”. The hurricane is expected to bypass New York, but could nevertheless cause significant precipitation as early as Saturday evening.
So ended a show that had started at 5:00 p.m. (9:00 p.m. GMT) with groups of spectators dancing, clapping and spreading picnic tablecloths, ready for five hours of live music.
Before the arrival of the clouds, many spectators remained worried about the epidemic situation, despite the obligation of vaccination required at the entrance.
All participants 12 years of age and older were required to provide proof of vaccination, except for those who could not receive a vaccine due to a disability. Masks were not required for this outdoor concert, except for unvaccinated children.
“At least everyone is excited,” said Ilana Gomez, who came especially to see guitarist Carlos Santana’s group play. “Music is what I missed the most” during the pandemic, told AFP the young woman of 27, who found “great” to be with so many people while recognizing that this was not “the best idea” to organize such a big event.
The mayor of America’s largest city, Bill de Blasio, told local radio on Friday that the event was planned “to really tell people that New York is back, to tell the world” .
Since the start of the pandemic, New York has deplored more than 33,000 victims of COVID-19.
On the lawn of Central Park, Bill Thompson, a longtime New Yorker, said he was “more than ever on (his) guards”.
“I am delighted that this is a vaccinated audience and that we have to show proof,” said the 69-year-old after applauding Diana Ross and Simon and Garfunkel on stage.
“It’s a joy” to see the city come back to life, he said, despite lingering concerns about the coronavirus. “You feel so free to be able to take advantage of what people have missed for so long.”
In the weeks leading up to the event, a series of concerts also took place across different parts of the city, including Big Daddy Kane, Slick Rick, KRS-1, as well as Ghostface Killah and Raekwon, members of the group Wu -Tang Clan.
The legendary George Clinton & The P-Funk All-Stars also performed at a concert in the Queens borough on Friday night.
With the exception of certain VIP seats, tickets were free to attend Saturday’s concert during which Santana, Jennifer Hudson, LL Cool J, Barry Manilow, and Earth, Wind and Fire were announced.
More than 68% of New York City adults are fully vaccinated, but the number of infections has rebounded recently in the city with more than 1,800 cases daily, up 19% from the situation two weeks earlier.
“I am wholeheartedly with those who have suffered,” emphasized a spectator, Laurie Ramirez, an educator who won a ticket for the concert thanks to her status as an essential worker during the pandemic. “It’s extraordinary, it’s the most beautiful thing,” she marveled at AFP.
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